Capsule-cutting machine.



unrrnn snaps PATENT ortica.

BENJAMIN THOMAS WINCHESTER, 0F WINDSORiI-IILLS, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 SHARP AND DOI-IME, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLANIDVA i `CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

y CAPSULE-CUTTING MACHINE.

residing at Windsor Hills, in the. countyof Baltimore and State of Maryland, haveinvented' a new and useful Capsule-Cutting Machine, of which the following is a specification. o. o

This invention relates to a capsule `cutf ting machine and hasreference to a machiney for cutting previously-formed capsules which are of "irregular lengths "into uniform lengths.

In manufacturing capsules the twoparts thereof which telescope to form a completeA capsule are` formed` separately and before bringing. the sameltogether theyare to be` cut the proper lengths, and the present machine is designedto accomplish this. cutting. One object ofthe present invention is to provide an. improved construction of machine whereby the capsule. may be delivered, thereto in the receivers in which they were deposited `from the forming machine and cut in gangs or rows in quick succession.

Another object is to .provide` improved means for conveying the capsules in a plui rality of rows successively past a cutter whereby to cutthe samein uniform lengths.` A furtherobject is to provide improved means for clamping the capsules between their ends while,conveying them past a cuts ter.

Another object is to provide an, improved gage device to coact with the capsules t0 properly position them with respect to the clamps whereby accuracy in cutting may be Another object is to provide an improved cutter with means for cleaning the same after it has passed through the capsules and made the cut and also having `means to lubricate thesame before it entersv the capembodying the features of theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the same. Fig. 3` is a sectional view taken Specification of Letters Patent. i PatentediNv, 24,1914, Application flied July 19, 1911.

Serial No. 639,243.

longitudinally through the pinch plates in open position forming part of the carriage for carryingthe capsules. Fig. l is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 except that the pinch plate is in closed position and the cutter isshown. the structure shown in Fig. 5. i o

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

`Referring tothe drawing by numerals, l, designates `an endless band cutter having a bevel, 3, along one side` which tapers to a This band is sustained in" cutting edge, 2.` a taut condition by passingaround flatfaced wheels, 4:, and 5, respectively which latter are sustained by a suitable frame. One wheel, 4, is mounted in bones30,

whereby it may be moved with respect to` the other wheel so aste maintain the cutter" band in a stretched` condition.

The horizontal shaft, G, which is sustained by the frame andcarries the` wheel,

5, is provided on one end with a driving pulley, 7, and on the` other end said shaft carries-a driven pulley, 8, from which motion is transmitted by means of a. belt, 34,

to a pulley, 9, on a horizontal shaft, 10..

This shaft, 1Q, also carriesworm, 35, which meshes with and drives a worm-wheel, 11 on the `lower end of a vertical shaft, 12, as shown in Fig. 1.` The worm-wheel, 11, is connected to the vertical shaft, 12, by means of a feather or equivalentmeans,whereby to` permit the said shaft to have a vertical movement through said wheel. A "pinion, 13, is carried on the upper end of the vertical shaft, 12, and said pinion, when the shaft, 12, is raised, meshes with a` horizontal rack, 14, on the under side of a hori- Zontal carriage, 36. The carriage has guide ribs, 37, on its opposite sides which enter grooves, 38, in guides, 39, whereby' to permit horizontal reciprocation of the carriage. A hand lever,15, is 4carried on a horizontal rock-shaft, 40, which latter is sustained in bracket, plates, l1, andsaid shaft, 410, carries` an arm, 16, which is rigid thereon and whose end engages` a collar, 17, on the vertical shaft, 12. It is therefore to be understood that the lever, 15, may be Fig. 6`is a plan view of operated to rock shaft, 40, and to thereby elevate vertical shaft, 12, thus intermeshing pinion, 13, and rack, 14, to mechanically move the carriage horizontally.

rThe carriage, 36, has upper and lower fiat plates, 19, and 21, respectively and an intermediate or interposed plate, 20. Both upper and lower plates are provided with a plurality of circular holes or perforations, 23, while the middle or interposed plate, 20, is provided with a plurality of perforations, 24, with off-set notches, 25, at one side thereof. At one end a spacer block or plate, 42, is interposed betweenthe top and bottom plates, 19, and 21, as shownin Fig. 3, whereby to space the top and middle plates to form a cutter blade passage, l43. An elliptical opening, 44, is provided in the ends of plates, 19, and 21, and in the spacer block, 42, so that an eccentric block, 22, may be operated therein to cause said plates, 19, and 21, to shift slightly withl respect to the interposed plate, 20, for a purpose presently to be explained. rIhe eccentric block, 22, has a stein, 45, to which an operating lever, 29, is attached for the lpurposeof actuating the block.

Rollers, 23, are mounted on the stationary guides, 39, at the blunt side or edge of the cutter band so as to maintain the band in a given vertical plane during the cutting operation.

An oiling device, 26, is provided at the side of the traveling cutter band, 1, so as to contact with the latter and grease the same with olive oil. In a somewhat similar manner is the cutter band cleaned by passing a contacting wiper, 27, after the cutting operation.

1n Fig. 5, of the drawing a sectional view is shown illustrating the operation of cutting the capsules. 1n said figure the nun meral, 1S, designates the uncut capsules which are held in a receiver, 31, `which is simply a perforated sheet of vcardboard or equivalent material. The capsules are also shown as extending down through the perforations, 23, in the upper plate, 19, of the carriage; then through the off-set notches, 25, in perforations, 24, of the interposed plate, 20, and finally through the perforations, 23,in the lower plate, 21. 1n this Fig. 5 it will also be noted that the band cutter, 1, is in alinement with cutter-blade passage, 43, so as to cut the capsules between the upper plate, 19, and theinterposed plate, 20. In this view (Fig. 5) the plates,19, and 21, are shown shifted `with respect to plate, 20, thereby clamping the capsules .during the cutting. A weighted block, 32, having perforations, 46, is seated on the receiver sheet, 31, around the capsules so as to lreep'the receiver seated on the carriage. 'A gage block, 33, is also shown on top of the weighted with the capsules projecting through perforations, 23, 24, and 23. The weighted block, 32, is then placed on the receiver andthe projecting closed ends of the capsules enter the perforations, 4G, and finally the gage block, 33, is placed on the closedfends of thecapsules to push the latter downthe required distance. Lever, 29, is next operated to pinch or clamp the capsules and finally lever, 15, is actuated to start the carriage to travel crosswise ofthe cuttervband so as to cut the lower ends olf and leave the upper ends of a uniform length. ,y

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl 1. In a machine for cutting capsule parts the combination with a cutter, of a carriage' having a plurality of plates with perforations therein to receive the capsule parts tol be cut; means for-permitting a relative shifting of said plates to cause the walls of the perforations to clamp the capsule parts andy means for causing a movement between the cutter and the plates to bring `the capsules into cutting position.

2. In a machine for cutting capsule parts the combination with a cutter, of a carriage having a plurality of plates with capsulereceiving perforations in said plates,-the said plates being spacedto provide a passage for the cutter between them and means for bringing the capsule parts and cutter together. v y

3. 1n a machine for cutting capsule parts the combination with an endless cutter band, of a carriage movable in a direction crosswise of said cutter band,l said carriage having a plurality of perforated plates to receive and clamp the capsule parts to be cut and means for moving said carriage past the .cutter band with one of `its perforated plates on one side of said band and another of its plates at the opposite side of said'cut. p

the combination With spaced apart Wheels, of an endless cutter band carried by said wheels; a carriage sustained in :i plane between the Wheels and extending crosswise of the cutter, said cerriagehaving means to clamp the capsule parts that are to be cut and means for moving the carriage and the clamped capsule parts in :i direction crosswise of the cutter to present the capsule parts to the cutteiw BENJAMIN THOMAS WINCIIESTER.. Witnesses:

THnoDonn SCHMEGKEBIER, ELI FRANK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. C. 

